Why so many new torokusho?

[Moritsuchi]

Hi all,

 

I was wondering why so many blades and teppo have relatively new torokusho, often from this year orlast year . As far as I know, or at least with my recent purchases, I didn't recieve a new torokusho after I registered the blade with my board of education. Maybe this is different in other prefectures?

 

Florian

[Jacques]

Every sword in Japan must have a torokusho. If the sword is exported it is de-registered and if it is later re-imported to Japan (for sale or polishing) it must be registered again.

[Robert S]

I'm also wondering if in some cases swords are continuing to turn up in abandoned houses as they are fixed up or torn down, which have never been registered.  I know of some cases where previously unregistered swords have been found, which I suspect are coming onto the market.  I've also bought one sword out of Japan which had no registration - it had clearly been sitting somewhere without proper care for a while.

[SteveM]

On 5/21/2025 at 4:13 AM, Moritsuchi said:

I was wondering why so many blades and teppo have relatively new torokusho

 

I wonder if it is a case of

1. The immediate post-war generation dying off, and a newer generation finding these unregistered items in storage, and, now having access to information via the internet, this new generation is willing to get the items registered. (I don't have an statistics, but I believe many of the previous generation were hesitant to do anything with their swords as they feared they would be confiscated, or that the police would arrest them). 

2. The effects of Covid and more people staying at home and stumbling across items that were in storage (or in hiding). And again, the younger generation was more willing and able to research how to properly register the items. 

 

Maybe a mix of both. 

[Rawa]

What is most important here?

"Under current Japanese law, any sword that does not meet the requirements of being classified as an art object made using traditional methods and materials is not able to attain a sword license (torokusho)"

 

https://thejapanesesword.com/shinsa.php

Its good to have sword with it. Its first requiement when buying in Japan. I was happily surprised buying lately sword when I discovered original torokusho with it. Dunno how it got out of Japan.

[Rawa]

And with newly released torokusho? If you buying sword in Japan you have to exchange torokusho.